Natural Resources Management (NREM 301)

This course provides broad exposure to biophysical aspects of natural resource management issues at global, national, and local levels. Topics covered include the management of specific natural resources, such as soil, water, wildlife, fisheries, forests and grasslands. This leads to the discussion of landscape and global level issues such as watershed protection, ecosystem management, and sustainable development. General concepts and principles are illustrated with local examples and case studies from Hawaii. Pre: NREM 210, one biological science course, and one chemistry course; or consent of the instructor. (Fall only, 3 credits)

 

Lectures: 50-min, meet 3 times a week

Laboratory: 3-hour, meet once a week (taken concurrent or separate, 1 credit)

 

 

 

Evaluation of Natural Resource Management (NREM 600)

This course analyzes the biophysical potential and limitations of natural resource management approaches and evaluate the success or failure of actual management programs. It focuses on the application of basic hydrologic processes and management practices occurring on small islands watersheds. Emphasis on the fundamental understanding of the hydrologic cycle, the interactions among the hydrosphere, atmosphere and land-use management (forest, agriculture, and urban) effects on the amount, timing, and quality of water resources. Pre: Restricted to NREM graduate students; basic biology and chemistry course required. (Fall only, 3 credits)

 

Lectures: 2-hour, meet once a week

Laboratory: 2-hour, meet once a week

 

Course Materials

 

 

 

Hydrologic Processes in Soils (NREM 660)

The course begins with an overview of the basics of soil hydrology / soil physics. The major part of the course will be dedicated to the hydrologic processes in soil including water flow, solute movement and gaseous transport in the variably saturated (saturated/unsaturated) zones. Public domain packages (RETC and Rosetta) will be used to analyze and estimate soil hydraulic properties. Several numerical models (VS2DI, HYDRUS-1D, HYDRUS2D and LECHAM) will be introduced and used in several practical and theoretical exercises. Students will have the opportunity to use these models to simulate problems of their interest. By the end of the course students will have an advanced understanding of the topic and the expertise to use numerical models as a research and/or a teaching tool. Pre: Either GG 455 or TPSS 460, and MATH 243; or consent of the instructor. (Fall only, 3 credits)

 

Lectures: 75-min, meet once a week

Laboratory: 2-hour, meet once a week

 

 

 

Watershed Hydrology (NREM 662)

This course will provide students with a fundamental understanding of the hydrologic cycle, the interactions among the hydrosphere, atmosphere and land-use management (forest, agriculture and urban) effects on the amount, timing and quali ty of water resources. Students will develop the ability to quantify the magnitude of hydrologic entities in small watersheds. They will have some hands on hydrologic analysis in watershed management such as rainfall, effective rainfall, canopy interception, evapotranspiration, infiltration, stream flow and hydrographs. Students will also gain an understanding of the rainfall-runoff-stream flow relationship and be able to relate hydrologic information to land use management. Students will study impact of different watershed management on hydrology, water quality of the surface and groundwater resources, and flooding. Pre: Restricted to NREM graduate students; basic biology and chemistry course required. (Spring only, 3 credits)

 

Lectures: 75-min, meet once a week

Laboratory: 2-hour, meet once a week

 

Course Materials

 

 

 

Small Watershed Modeling (NREM 691)

This course will introduce students to process-based modeling of watershed with emphasis on concepts, logical and mathematical sequence of watershed modeling, and current model applications. It deals with the characterization and simulation of small watershed systems including land and channel phase hydrologic processes and pollutant transport processes.  Significant time will be given to the investigation of the structure, algorithm, and capabilities of current watershed computer models.  The student will have an opportunity for "hands-on" use of some currently available watershed models, interpret and evaluate the model results in a scientific way, and will be expected to use computers extensively.

 

 

Lectures: 75-min, meet once a week

Laboratory: 2-hour, meet once a week